Apotheosis of the Duke of Buckingham (after Peter Paul Rubens)

Apotheosis of the Duke of Buckingham (after Rubens), painted around 1805 and now in York Art Gallery, is a copy of Rubens's ceiling painting for Whitehall — demonstrating the young Etty's engagement with the Baroque master who would remain one of his primary influences. Copying Old Masters was a standard academic training exercise and Etty's choice of Rubens reveals his early attraction to the dynamic, coloristic painting tradition that would define his mature style. The Apotheosis, with its swirling figures and allegorical grandeur, offered lessons in compositional dynamism and flesh painting that Etty would draw on throughout his career.

Oil on canvas, the portrait demonstrates William Etty's command of rich Venetian coloring and robust modeling. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.